Pope Benedict XVI has delivered his traditional Christmas message to thousands of worshippers at St Peter's Square in Rome.
He appealed for lasting peace in Somalia, the Sudanese region of Darfur and in Ivory Coast.
The Pope spoke of his hope that Christmas would bring consolation to Christians in Iraq and all of the Middle East, and he prayed for the rebirth of peace in the region.
There was also a plea for reconciliation on the Korean peninsula along with a rebuke for the Communist rulers in Beijing over what he said were the limitations placed on Christians living on the Chinese mainland.
Fears for the safety of the Middle East's dwindling numbers of Christians were heightened in late October when Islamist militants laid siege to a church in Baghdad, leaving 44 worshippers and two priests dead.
An al-Qaeda affiliate group has also issued death threats to Iraqi Christians in recent days, warning them against celebrating Christmas.
In his address, Pope Benedict appealed to the region's leaders to show solidarity with all the local Christian communities, and singled out Iraq for special attention.
‘May the comforting message of the coming of Emmanuel ease the pain and bring consolation amid their trials to the beloved Christian communities in Iraq and throughout the Middle East,’ he said in his Urbi et Orbi address.
‘May it bring them comfort and hope for the future and bring the leaders of nations to show them effective solidarity,’ he added.
Although a relative easing of the conflict between the Israelis and Palestinians enabled more people to attend Christmas celebrations in the West Bank town of Bethlehem this year, Pope Benedict said the festivities marking Christ's birth should focus attention on the need for peace.
‘May the light of Christmas shine forth anew in the land where Jesus was born, and inspire Israelis and Palestinians to strive for a just and peaceful coexistence,’ he told the crowds gathered in Saint Peter's Square.
Pope Benedict held his traditional Christmas Eve last night, which was marked by heightened security following parcel bomb attacks at two embassies in the Italian capital.
'At this hour, full of thankfulness, we join in the singing of all the centuries, singing that unites heaven and earth, angels and men,' Benedict said in his sermon at a traditional Christmas Eve Mass in St Peter's Basilica attended by some 10,000 people.
'Grant that we many join with you in love more and more and thus become people of peace,' he said.
Pope Benedict also prayed for God to punish the world's 'oppressors' and bring about 'true brotherhood' between peoples.
'Lord make your promise come finally true. Break the rods of the oppressors. Burn the tramping boots. Let the time of the garments rolled in blood come to an end,' he said.
Celebrating his sixth Christmas as Pope, the 83-year-old earlier lit a candle at his window overlooking St Peter's Square for the official opening of the Vatican's nativity scene but a torrential downpour kept attendance low.
Police were on heightened security in the Vatican and in Rome a day after parcel bombs at the Swiss and Chilean embassies in Rome.
Anarchists claimed responsibility for the attacks, which injured one person at each embassy.
Vatican guards were also more vigilant following security breaches for two consecutive years at Christmas Eve masses by the same woman, Susanna Maiolo.
Last year the woman, who has had a history of mental problems, jumped over a barricade as the Pope walked up the basilica's main aisle and managed to pull him to the floor.
